Trouble Vision by Allison Kingsley Read Free Book Online

always done well and will go on doing all right without some fancy new resort taking over everything.”
    “Well, it seems that not everyone shares your views. The town council for one, and I’m sure the construction workers are happy they have a job in this economy.”
    Lionel made a sound of disgust deep in his throat. “They’re a bunch of money-grabbing traitors, that’s what they are. All they care about is their take-home pay. They don’t care a damn about the damage they’re doing up there.”
    “Is that why you had that argument with Scott Delwyn?”
    Lionel stood up so suddenly, his chair crashed against the wall behind him. “What’s that got to do with anything? Who the hell are you? Are you a cop? If so, where’s your ID?”
    Stephanie shot out of her chair and retreated to the door, while Clara got up more slowly. “I’m not the police, Mr. Hampton. I’m just a friend of Scott’s wife, wanting to know what happened to him.”
    “He fell off the scaffolding, that’s what happened to him.” Lionel seemed to recover his former belligerence. “That’s all I know, and all I’m going to say. Except maybe he was asking for it, strutting around that construction site like he owned the place. I wasn’t the only one who got in his way. There were plenty of others.”
    In the act of turning away, Clara paused. “Like who?”
    “Never you mind.”
    She held his gaze for a moment. “Are you suggesting that Scott’s death wasn’t an accident?”
    “I never said no such thing.” Lionel waved his arm at her. “Now, get out of here before I bring charges against you. Pretending to be taking a survey while all the time nosing into other people’s business—that’s got to be illegal.”
    Stephanie opened the door and darted out into the hallway.
    Clara raised her chin. “I’m just a concerned citizen, trying to get at the truth.” She spun around and crossed the room to follow her cousin.
    Just as she reached the door, Lionel called out, “If I were you, lady, I’d stay out of things that don’t concern you. People get hurt that way.”
    Clara shut the door behind her with a little more force than necessary. Following Stephanie down the hallway, she muttered, “He’s a nasty piece of work. It wouldn’t surprise me at all to find out he killed Scott Delwyn.”
    Once outside in the brisk salty air, she felt she could breathe again. Stephanie was already in the car when Clara reached it. She pulled open the door and climbed in next to her cousin.
    “Boy,” Stephanie said, reaching for her seat belt. “I thought he was going to call Dan and complain about us.”
    “He might still do that.” Clara started the engine. “On the other hand, if he’s got something to hide, he won’t want to go whining to the police about us.”
    “How did you know he had an argument with Scott?”
    “I didn’t. The mayor said there’d been some fighting up at the site, and since Lionel Hampton led a group of protestors, he’d be the logical one to confront Scott.”
    “Do you think he killed him?”
    Clara shrugged. “I don’t know, but he’s right at the top of my list.”
    “The Sense didn’t tell you anything back there?”
    “Nope.” Clara pulled out onto the coast road. “Guess we’ll just have to rely on our own instincts.”
    Stephanie sank back on her seat. “Crap. I was hoping we’d strike gold on the first try.”
    “Well, maybe your teacher friend can tell us something helpful.”
    “I don’t know him all that well.” Stephanie sounded worried again.
    “I thought you said he was Ethan’s teacher.”
    “No, he teaches third grade. Ethan must have heard him talking about the environment at some point. I see Mr. Millstone now and then when I’m at the school, but I’ve never spoken to him.”
    “Well, now’s your chance.”
    “Me? You want me to question him?”
    “Well, you’re the parent of kids who go to his school.” Clara squinted as a ray of sun broke through the